Channel-shaped carrier for cans having external beads and for other containers having shoulders proximate their ends



June 18, 1963 J. A. VAN DEN BERG 3,094,210 I CHANNEL-SHAPED CARRIER FORCANS HAVING EXTERNAL BEADS AND FOR OTHER CONTAINERS HAVING SHOULDERSPROXIMATE THEIR ENDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1960 22 24 I "7" Z4/9 2a 28 IN VEN TOR. Jase/"ll 1Q Vamps/mews Mi, m M1,

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June 1963 J. A. VAN DEN BERG' 3,

CHANNEL-SHAPED CARRIER FOR CANS HAVING EXTERNAL BEADS AND FOR OTHERCONTAINERS HAVING SHOULDERS PROXIMATE THEIR ENDS Filed F'b.v 23, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 2 6 w 1 M N: m u yr NM .1 MA

Jwm 6 5 Jun 1 1963 J. A. VAN DEN BERG 3,094,210

CHANNEL-SHAPED CARRIER FOR cANs HAVING EXTERNAL BEADS AND FOR OTHERCONTAINERS HAVING SHOULDERS PROXIMATE THEIR ENDS Filed Feb. 25. 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. J0 SEPH 4. l RNUENBEPG- BY w, mm W June 18,1963 J. A. VAN DEN BERG 3,094,210

CHANNEL-SHAPED CARRIER FOR CANS HAVING EXTERNAL BEADS AND FOR OTHERCONTAINERS HAVING SHOULDERS PROXIMATE THEIR ENDS Filed Feb 25; 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I 6 & DDR5 mm WW A H H m J AM, Mi+m Unitedsitates PatentP CHANNEL-SHAPED CARRIER FOR CANS HAVING EXTERNAL BEADS AND FOR OTHERCONT AIN- ERS HAVING SHOULDERS PROXIMATE THEIR ENDS Joseph A. Van DenBerg, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to Green Bay Packaging Inc., acorporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,277 6 Claims.(Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to a channel-shaped carrier for canshaving external beads, and for. other containers having shouldersproximate their ends.

The invention seeks to provide secure connection and support for aplurality of shouldered containers with a minimum expense for paperboardand for assembly of the containers and carrier. In all of the variousembodiments illustrated, a strip of stock such as plastic or paperboardis die cut or otherwise slit, without removal of any stock, to providetwo opposed C-shaped slits for each container, the slits accommodatingthe beads or shoulders at the top or bottom of the container, as thecase may be. The portions of the strip in which the slits are formedhave score lines spaced at a distance which is less than the diameter ofthe container top or bottom and are adapted to be folded downwardly toconstitute flanges having margins at the respective slits which arebowed outwardly by the greater width of the container and are marginallyrectilinear and held by the resilience of the material with their cutmargins engaged with the container shoulder. Hereby the end of thecontainer is clamped to the web portion of the strip which engages theends of the containers between the flanges.

In the case of a can of the type for which the invention is adapted,such shoulders are provided at the top and bottom by the beads, and thetransverse or arm portions of the C-shaped slits correspondsubstantially in length to the thickness of the beads so that he portionof the paperboard strip intermediate the slits lies against the top orbottom of the can, being held firmly thereto by the snapped engagementof the free margin of the flange at the opposite side of the bead.

The invention also contemplates special means for applying strips of thecharacter above referred to to the containers, one arrangement involvingfolding devices of the type known to the industry as plows for foldingdown the margins of the strip to provide the shoulders which engage thebeads, at the same time holding the central portion of the slit firmlyto the ends of the containers. According to this method, the containersare moving in continuous series and the blank comprises a continuousstrip from which units can subsequently be severed alter the strip hasbeen applied to the container. In another method, the strips are pre-cutblanks, each of which is applied individually to a series of containers.In this instance, also, the containers may be moving in endless seriesbut will preferably have a dwell to permit the application of the blanksunless the blank applying means is operated with a shuttle-like movementsuch that it moves with the advance of the containers at the same timethat it moves toward the containers to connect the successive stripsthereto.

In other embodiments of the mechanical structure, I disclose blanks andcarriers which are provided with handles, one such arrangement havingcarrier means which is duplex, including the handle, the varioussections being severable into smaller units, each provided with its ownend.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an assemblage of containersprovided at both top and bottom with connecting and carrying stripsembodying the invention, it being understood that only one such strip isrequired.

bead 21.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 22 ofFIG. 1.

*FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in plan of the assemblage shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the blank used with the carrier of FIGS. 1 to4.

FIG. 6 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the method and apparatusfor applying to a continuous row of containers a continuous carrierstrip which may subsequently be subdivided into units, each comprising aplurality of containers.

. FIG. 7 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the method andapparatus for applying pre-cut carrier strips indivually, each such setbeing applied to a plurality of successive containers.

FIG. 8 is a detail view in front elevation of the pressure applying headshown in FIG. 7, a can and carrier strip being fragmentarilyillustrated.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view in perspective of a modified embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 10- 10of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the blank from which the top carrier shown inFIG. 9 is made.

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective showing a pack comprising a modifiedcarrier embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view taken in transverse section through the pack shown inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing the blank used in thepack of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

All that is required to provide connection as well as support for aplurality of containers such as beaded cans .or other containers havingthe requisite shoulder is a single carrier strip of the type shown at 15in FIGS. 1 to 8. This strip may be made of paperboard or plastic or evenof metal but the preferred material is paperboard. FIG. 5 shows thecarrier 15 with its side flanges 16 and 17 in the plane of .the centralpanel 18, this view representing the blank prior to its application tothe container 20. The central panel is of sufiicient length to extendacross the ends of the containers which are to be connected orsupported. At appropriate intervals to engage diametrically oppositeside portions of the container beads 21, the carrier strip 15 isprovided with slits .22 which are opposed and may be characterized asC-shaped. Each such slit includes a generally rectilinear portion 23merging curvilinearly with two short arm portions 24. The slits 22 areso elongated that the tabs 19 do not engage within the chimes of thecans but lie across them, it being immaterial, therefore, whether or notthe cans have chimes, a long as they have the necessary shoulders. Thelength of the arm portions desirably corresponds substantially with thedistance between the shoulder 25 and the end of the can or othercontainer, the shoulder being, in thiscase, the lower margin of the Thecarrier strip 15 is provided with substantially parallel fold lines 28represented by the scoring best shown in FIG. 5. These fold lines areinterrupted by the C-shaped slits, the slits being disposed almostentirely outside of the fold lines 28, with the ends of their short armportions 24 terminating at or immediately adjacent the fold lines. Inorder to require that the cut margins outside of slits 22 will snapbeneath the container bead or shoulder and maintain the flanges underconsiderable tension, the spacing between the fold lines is slightlyless than the diameter of the container.

As a result of the construction described, the carrier 15 may be appliedin the following manner: When the blank is superimposed on the row ofcontainers. 20, its

central panel 18 will lie across the registering tops of the containersand the flanges 16 and 17 will project laterally. When the flanges arenow folded downwardly at opposite sides of the container to the positionshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the slit margins 39 formed by the rectilinearportions 23 of the slit 22 will snap beneath the beads 21 to engage theshoulder 25, thereby holding the panel portion 18 securely to the end ofthe container. Intimate engagement of the margins 30 with the shoulder25 is assured by reason of the fact that the width of the containerexceeds the spacing between the fold lines 23, thus causing a portion ofeach of the flanges 16 and 17 beneath the cut margin to bulge outwardlyin the manner clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Between containers,the fold lines 28 hold the flanges 16 and 17 at a spacing which is lessthan the overall width of the end of the containers.

Provided the cut margins 30 are substantially rectilinear and the offsetthereof from fold lines 28 represents quite accurately the thickness ofthe bead of the container of the shoulder 25 of the container end, asurprisingly secure connection is effected simply by holding the stripto the tops of the row of containers and folding downwardly the flanges16 and 17 to make the channeled carrier as disclosed.

In FIG. 6 I have illustrated a conveyor upon which containers 20 aremoving continuously in endless series. From a suitable source 34 anendless series of joined strips 15 is being fed downwardly as indicatedby the arrow 36'. A roller 37 guides the series of connected carrierstrips into position across the tops of the row of containers so thatthey move in register with the containers parallel to the conveyor 35.

In the course of such movement, the margins 16 and 17 are engaged byplows 38, 39 which fold the flanges downwardly to engage their slitedges 30 with the shoulders 25 provided by the beads 21 as alreadydescribed. At the same time, the panel portions 18 are desirably heldsnugly to the ends of the containers by a series of rollers 40.

By way of exemplifying the preferred arrangement, and withoutlimitation, the connected carrier strips 1 5 are shown die cut or scoredto provide corner portions 42 and an intervening row of perforations 43upon which the several sections between such corner portions can beseparated to make multi-container units such as those shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a similar conveyor 35 supporting an endless series ofbeaded containers 26. However, in this instance, the carrier strips 15are pre-cut and assembled in a stack such as that shown at 45. As thecans or other containers 20 are advanced with the conveyor 35, anexposed carrier strip of the pack 45 will be deposited upon successivegroups of containers 2i] and will be fastened in place by folding theirflanges down as already described. This can be done manually or it canbe done with various types of pressure-applying and folding heads suchas the one illustrated at in FIGS. 7

and '8. If the conveyor 35 is in continuous movement, it will benecessary that the head move with it during the interval in which thehead is conducting the folding operation. In that event, the head willreturn upwardly away from the conveyor and rearwardly to its originalposition following each operation. If the conveyor 35 operatesintermittently, the head can reciprocate vertically to engage one of thecarrier strips with a row of containers in each dwell of the conveyor.

As shown, the head 50 comprises a pressure-applying plate 51 supportedon arm 52 and provided along its opposite margins with pivoted dogs 53engageable with the projecting flanges 16 and 17 at diametricallyopposite points beside each of the containers 20. As the head descendsover the containers, the arms 54 of the respective dogs will engage thecentral panel 18 of the carrier 50. This will cause the dogs to pivotabout their i respective fulcrums 55, whereby the ends 56 of the dogwill engage the flanges 16 and 17 to force these downwardly beside thecontainers thereby snapping the die cut margins 30 of the side flangesinto engagement beneath the shoulders of the containers.

The application of the carrier strip has been described with referenceto but one end of each of a row of con tainers. A single such carrierstrip is entirely adequate not only to hold the containers securelytogether in a connected row but also to provide support. Even if theuser grasps only one such carrier strip, he can use this as a means ofcarrying the supported containers and there will be no danger whateverof their being dislodged to fall from the grasp of the carrier.

However, the lower ends of the containers may be separated due to theflexibility of the carrier strip and if it be desired that thecontainers be held rigidly against pivotal movement, as well as beingsupported for carrying, the application of the strip as above describedmay be duplicated across the lower ends of the containers, assuming thatthese also are beaded, as is the case in a conventional can.

The carrier may also be designed to be applied with equal success to theshoulders formed by lids or caps of jars or bottles. In all cases thehorizontal edge formed by the slit should engage the shoulder at a levelsuch that the top or bottom beyond the shoulder is clamped against thecentral web of the carrier.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the carrier strip isidentical with that already described so far as its container-engagingpanel 18 and die cut and scored flanges 16 and 17 are concerned.However, to facilitate carrying, the central panel 18 has complementaryextensions 60 and 61 from its opposite ends. These have their oppositeside margins 62 and 63 substantially parallel and spaced by the width ofthe panel 18. Their other margins 64, 65 extend diagonally across thetop of panel 1 8 when the extensions 60 and 61 are folded upon the panel18 as shown in FIG. 9 and secured to the panel by any desired means suchas gluing or stapling. From these angular margins 64 and 65 projecthandles 66 and 67 which register with each other to provide a compositediagonal handle when the parts are folded into position as shown in FIG.9 and FIG. 10.

The strip 15 which optionally is used to connect the lower ends of thecontainer 2t"; is identical to that previously described.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show another embodiment in which four carriers are madein unitary connection. Each of the four carriers comprises panels 18 asalready described. The panels 18 are integrally connected end to end intwo pairs joined upon a common fold line 70 which also joins the panels71 and 72. Panels 71 and 72 connect pairs of panels 1 8 in lieu of theside flanges 16 of the carriers of one pair and the side flanges 17 ofthe carriers of the other pair. The panels 71, 72 not only provide theside flanges but also provide a center partition between two tiers ofcontainers 2 They have handle extensions 73, 74 which register when thepanels 71, 72 are in face contact as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

As illustrated, by way of exemplification and not by way of limitation,the assembly comprises a total of six cans, three in each tier. Thehandles 73 and 74 may be grasped concurrently to carry the six cans.However, it will be observed that it is only necessary to unfold andsever the two sections upon the fold line 70 to produce two carriers,each having three cans, and each having its own handle. In thisparticular embodiment, the cans are carried on their sides instead ofbeing supported vertically from their tops. However, the connection ofthe cans with the carriers is equally rigid in spite of the fact thatthe slit margins 30 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 do notcarry the weight of the cans but merely lock the shoulder bead securelyagainst the panel 18.

While the devices illustrated show my carrier as constituting means forconnecting and carrying containers in multiples of three, it is to beunderstood that carriers are equally applicable to containers in anyappropriate number. I have successfully demonstrated the carrier for twocans, three cans, four cans, six cans and more.

I claim:

1. A device for connecting and carrying containers disfposed side byside in a row and provided with shoulders spaced from their ends, saiddevice comprising a panel portion engageable with the ends of theseveral containers, and flange portions having free margins remote fromsaid panel portion, said flange portions being laterally engageable withthe sides of the several containers and foldably connected with thepanel portion upon fold lines which are generally parallel and spaced bya distance less than the width of the ends of the containers, the saiddevice having generally O-shaped slits interrupting the fold lines inpairs and opposed to each other across the locations at which the panelportion will rest upon the tops of the containers, each of said slitsseparating from the flange portions aforesaid tabs in the plane of thepanel portion and projecting oppositely therefrom, each of said slitsfurther defining on its respective flange portion a cut edge which issubstantially rectilinear and offset from the respective fold line by adistance substantially equalling the spacing between the shoulder andthe end of a container with which the device is to be used, whereby,when said device is applied to the containers of such a row, the panelwill be substantially continuous across the ends of the containers, withthe tabs projecting laterally across the sides of said containers, saidcut edges having confining engagement with the shoulders of therespective containers when the flange portions are folded downwardly topositions approximately at right angles to the panel portion, therespective flange portions being stiff and free of fold lines from thefold lines first mentioned outwardly to the free margins of the flangeportions, said flange portions being adapted to be deformedcurvilinearly outwardly around side portions of the respectivecontainers and be stiffened by such curvilinear deformation and held insupporting relation to said shoulders.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the panel portion is of a widthcorresponding to the width of the container with which it is usedwhereby to be adapted to span a single row of containers.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said panel is provided withcomplementary extensions from its ends having generally diagonal marginsprovided with handles, said extensions having folded integral connectionwith the panel and being superimposed thereon with their said handle inregistry diagonally of the panel.

4. A can carrier pack comprising a row of cans provided with shouldersspaced from their ends and a carrier for confining and supporting saidcans, said carrier comprising a panel portion extending substantiallycompletely across the ends of the cans in pressure engagement therewith,and flange portion-s integral with the panel portion and having freemargins remote from said panel portion and folded downwardly therefromupon fold lines which are generally parallel and spaced by a distanceless than the width of the ends of the cans, said fold lines beinginterrupted by C-shaped slits with which the carrier is provided, saidslits being disposed in pairs centered with respect to the respectivecans and forming tabs which project laterally across the ends ofrespective cans, said slits defining on adjacent respective portions ofsaid flanges cut edges which are substantially rectilinear and offsetfrom the adjacent fold lines by a distance substantially equal to thespacing between the shoulder and the end of the respective can, theflange portions being stiff and free of fold lines outwardly from thefold lines first mentioned to the free margins of said flange portionsand the cut edges being held by the stiffness of said flange portions intight clamping engagement with the shoulders of the cans irrespective ofinward pressure on said flanges, said flanges having arcuately deformedportions in pressure engagement with the sides of the respective cansbeneath their said shoulders, portions of said flanges between the cansof said row being at a spacing less than the width of the cans.

5. The can pack set forth in claim 4 in further combination with a likecarrier connected with the opposite ends of the respective cans, thecombined action of said carriers maintaining the cans in parallelism.

6. A can carrier pack comprising two adjacent rows of cans all providedwith shoulders spaced from their ends and a carrier for confining andsupporting said cans, said carrier comprising panel portions extendingsubstantially completely across the ends of cans in their respectiverows and in pressure engagement therewith, a web folded upon itselfbetween the ends of said rows and disposed between the rows of cans andhaving handle portions projecting beyond said rows, said web includinglateral portions integral with the sides of the four separate panelportions aforesaid and constituting flanges of the said panel portions,the panel portions having free-margined flange portions outside of therows of cans and remote from the folded web, said flange portions andlateral web portions being folded against opposite sides of the cans ofthe respective rows upon fold lines connecting them with said panelportions and which fold lines are generally parallel to each other andspaced by a distance less than the width of the ends of the cans andinterrupted by C- shaped slits with which the carrier is provided, saidslits being disposed in pairs centered with respect to the re spectivecans and forming tabs which project laterally across the ends of therespective cans, the slits defining cut edges which are substantiallyrectilinear and offset from the adjacent fold lines by a distancesubstantially equal to the spacing between the shoulder and the end ofthe respective can, the flange portions and lateral web portionsaforesaid being stiff and tree of fold lines in areas thereof disposedoutwardly from the fold lines first mentioned, and said cut edges beingheld by the stiffness of the material in tight clamping engagement withthe shoulders of the cans irrespective of inward pressure on saidflanges, said flanges having arcuately deformed portions in pressureengagement with the sides of the respective cans beneath their saidshoulder portions, the op posing portions of said flanges and webportions between the cans of each row being at a spacing less than thewidth of respective cans in said row.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,312,651 Koolni-s Mar. 2, 1943 2,331,038 Meller Oct. 5, 1954 2,764,284-Arneson Sept. 25, 1956 2,824,683 Klein Feb. 25, 1958 2,896,779 ArmelJuly 28, 1959 2,917,877 Fisher Dec. 22, 1959 2,918,765 Currivan Dec. 29,1959 2,965,410 Hughes Dec. 20, 1960

1. A DEVICE FOR CONNECTING AND CARRYING CONTAINERS DISPOSED SIDE BY SIDEIN A ROW AND PROVIDED WITH SHOULDERS SPACED FROM THEIR ENDS, SAID DEVICECOMPRISING A PANEL PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE ENDS OF THE SEVERALCONTAINERS, AND FLANGE PORTIONS HAVING FREE MARGINS REMOTE FROM SAIDPANEL PORTION, SAID FLANGE PORTIONS BEING LATERALLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THESIDES OF THE SEVERAL CONTAINERS AND FOLDABLY CONNECTED WITH THE PANELPORTION UPON FOLD LINES WHICH ARE GENERALLY PARALLEL AND SPACED BY ADISTANCE LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE ENDS OF THE CONTAINERS, THE SAIDDEVICE HAVING GENERALLY C-SHAPED SLITS INTERRUPTING THE FOLD LINES INPAIRS AND OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER ACROSS THE LOCATIONS AT WHICH THE PANELPORTION WILL REST UPON THE TOPS OF THE CONTAINERS, EACH OF SAID SLITSSEPARATING FROM THE FLANGE PORTIONS AFORESAID TABS IN THE PLANE OF THEPANEL PORTION AND PROJECTING OPOSITELY THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID SLITSFURTHER DEFINING ON ITS RESPECTIVE FLANGE PORTION A CUT EDGE WHICH ISSUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR AND OFFSET FROM THE RESPECTIVE FOLD LINE BY ADISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUALLING THE SPACING BETWEEN THE SHOULDER ANDTHE END OF A CONTAINER WITH WHICH THE DEVICE IS TO BE USED, WHEREBY,WHEN SAID DEVICE IS APPLIED TO THE CONTAINERS OF SUCH A ROW, THE PANELWILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS ACROSS THE ENDS OF THE CONTAINERS, WITHTHE TABS PROJECTING LATERALLY ACROSS THE SIDES OF SAID CONTAINERS, SAIDCUT EDGES HAVING CONFINING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDERS OF THERESPECTIVE CONTAINERS WHEN THE FLANGE PORTIONS ARE FLODED DOWNWARDLY TOPOSITIONS APPROXIMATELY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PANEL PORTION, THERESPECTIVE FLANGE PORTIONS BEING STIFF AND FREE OF FLOOD LINES FROM THEFOLD LINES FIRST MENTIONED OUTWARDLY TO THE FREE MARGINS OF THE FLANGEPORTIONS, SAID FLANGE PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE DEFORMEDCURVILINEARLY OUTWARDLY AROUND SIDE PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVECONTAINERS AND BE STIFFENED BY SUCH CURVILINEAR DEFORMATION AND HELD INSUPPORTING RELATION TO SAID SHOULDERS.